Eatbugs was lying in the tall grass, the sun warming his
back, and listening to the sounds of the Rainbow Fields. He closed his
eyes and smiled as the wind sang its gentle song as it lifted the leaves.
He heard the peepers squealing in delight and the rustling of the grass
as Little went chasing after a flutterby. Eatbugs stretched out a paw,
put his chin on it and sighed with contentment. He lifted his head as he
heard a kidden approach. Eatbugs smiled and shifted to let Rocky share
his patch of sun. "Good day", he said. "Hmm? Oh Good Day
Eatbugs", said Rocky, settling down and setting his gaze on the far
horizon. His face looked distracted and Eatbugs felt a tinge of sadness
coming from his furriend. "Rocky, what's wrong? Can I help?",
said Eatbugs.

Rocky blinked for a minute and then answered, "I
don't know. I just keep thinking of my humans today for some reason. I
miss them and I'm worried about them."

Eatbugs gave his friend an earlick, "Do you want
to go and see them? I'll go with you".

Rocky smiled at his young furriend, "Later. There's
something else. I don't know exactly, but there is something I must do
here."

"Now Cosmic Bob you come down this minute! You are
MUCH to high up there", Sweetie Greymother's voice called out. Eatbugs
and Rocky padded over to her. She stood at the base of a tree filled with
peepers.

"Morning Ms. Greymother, need a hand?", smiled
Rocky.

"Oh thank you! I'm supervising the tree climbing
this morning and seem to have an overly adventurous peeper.".

"Don't worry. He can't hurt himself", said Eatbugs.

Sweetie Greymother laughed, "Well, I know that. But
he CAN get himself so high he can't get down! Cosmic Bob, did you hear
me????".

"Aws shucks! Cans't I have no fun?"

Eatbugs and Rocky laughed and warranted as how the peepers
seemed to be having quite enough fun.

"Oh okays." said Cosmic Bob turning to discover
with some consternation that he had no idea of how to get down.

"There," snorted Sweetie Greymother, "I
told you!".

"Hang on Bob", said Eatbugs. Turning to Rocky
he said, "You take the left and I'll take the right". With that
the two toms started up the tree, carefully selecting limbs and gingerly
stepping over peepers, now watching the "rescue" and cheering.
When they'd made it up the branches beside Bob they considered their options.
Eatbugs reached out and grabbed Bob's tail. "I have his tail, Rocky.
Think we should just swing him down?" he said with a wink.

Rocky laughed and stuck out his strong arm. "Now
you climb right on young man, and kindly watch the claws!" Bob scrambled
up Rocky's arm and settled on his shoulders. He threw his paws around Rocky's
neck and held on tight. The two toms made their way down the tree with
the errant peeper in tow.

The other peepers let up a mighty cheer and as Rocky passed
he heard Rainbow whisper to Tiny Bubbles "He's soooooooo brave!".
Rocky's smile got wider. Safely on the ground they deposited the mighty
climber at Sweetie Greymother's feet. She stood with her paws on her hips
and her toe tapping. Rocky and Eatbugs made tracks as they heard "Now,
YOUNG MAN...."

"Remind me never to get her mad at ME", chuckled
Eatbugs. Rocky laughed and nodded.

They'd passed the catnip patch and waved at Beethoven
and Jasmine who were daintly munching leaves when Rocky stopped in his
tracks and brought his ears to attention. "What is it?" said
Eatbugs, turning his whiskers into the wind and listening hard. "I
don't know" said Rocky, "I think another comes". Eatbugs
listened hard to the music in the wind and just as he was about to reassure
his furriend that all was quiet he felt it. The familiar tingling in his
whiskers and the faint change in the wind. He looked sadly at Rocky and
nodded. Slowly the two furriends walked in silence towards the gate. As
the music built on the wind and the sky began it's dancing colors, the
others began to join them. Sweetie Greymother, Sweetie Yellowmother Miss
Kitty and R2, all walked with tails entwined. Isolde and Pris walked with
Puppie and Beethoven. Peanut held Tiny Bubbles and Cosmic Bob's paws and
G'Max and Katie helped the peepers along. Together they came, furriends
old and new found walking side by side. Charlie walked with Little and
Uncle Butterscotch. Beethoven talked in somber tones as she walked with
Putt Putt and Creamsickle. At the Gate the Company of Kiddens formed their
circle and waited. The Welcoming Song swirled around them, in its bittersweet
refrain, as it winded it's way to Earth. The sky shimmered in brilliant
colors as the Rainbow seemed to come to life, waiting to welcome a new
furriend. The kiddens bowed their heads and began to purr.

When the bright blue flash appeared before them them lifted
their heads to see a lovely girl kidden before them. She blinked and started
to take a step back and stopped. She knew from her days at the dumpster
that she should be afraid of so many kiddens, but found that she could
not fear them. She felt a wave of warmth and acceptance wash over her.

Four kiddens from the group slowly approached her. A beautiful
and graceful kidden offered her nose in greeting, "Welcome to the
Rainbow Bridge, Sally. I am Miss Kitty". Sweetie Greymother and Sweetie
Yellowmother both nuzzled their furriend, "It will be all right, Sally.
This is a safe place. There are no dumpsters here" said R2. "And
no mean dogs or unkind humans" said SYM. "And we will see our
humans again!" said SGM. Sally blinked in disbelief. "It is true!"
chorused the others. One by one all the kiddens of the Company came forward
and offered their noses in greeting, eaching promising to show Sally around
her new home, the best sleepy spots and the finest catnip. She found her
self laughing and touching noses gaily.

As the kiddens turned to lead her to her new home, Eatbugs
felt a paw on his shoulder. He turned to see Rocky looking solemnly at
him. " This is what I had to wait for. Now there is something else
I must do." Eatbugs nodded and watched as his friend leapt into the
stars on his way to find his humans.